#1 of 9 #1 comedy movie of July 1988
1988 · Comedy, Romance
$171.5M worldwide · 45% of the chart's total
$78.2M US & Canada · 46% $93.3M elsewhere · 54%
Comedy box office · July 1988
Comedy Box Office, July 1988: Top-Grossing Releases
Cocktail (1988) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in July 1988, with $171.5M worldwide, ahead of Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M and A Fish Called Wanda (1988) at $62.5M. 9 comedy films released in July 1988 report a worldwide gross, $381.2M in all, 64% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 61% on June 1988, whose releases took $966.3M. By language, English leads with $209.7M across 8 comedy releases.
- July 1988 releases with a gross
- 9
- combined worldwide
- $381.2M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs June 1988
- −61%
#1 of 9 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of July 1988?
Cocktail (1988) leads with $171.5M, 45% of the total. The top 5 together took $353.2M, 93% of what all 9 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Comedy Release of July 1988, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in July 1988.
- 1 Jul 29, 1988 US and Canada: $78.2M Rest of the world: $93.3M Worldwide: $171.5M
- 2 Jul 20, 1988 US and Canada: $38.4M Rest of the world: $43.2M Worldwide: $81.6M
- 3 Jul 29, 1988 US and Canada: $62.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $62.5M
- 4 Jul 6, 1988 US and Canada: $22.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.4M
- 5 Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $15.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.1M
- 6
Jul 8, 1988 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M - 7
Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $11.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.8M - 8
Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 9
Jul 13, 1988 US and Canada: $344.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $344.4K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in July 1988?
Of the top 9, A Fish Called Wanda (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Cocktail (1988) made 54% of its gross abroad. Across all 9 films, $244.7M (64%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Cocktail (1988) $171.5M $78.2M US & Canada · 46% $93.3M elsewhere · 54%
- 2 Midnight Run (1988) $81.6M $38.4M US & Canada · 47% $43.2M elsewhere · 53%
- 3 A Fish Called Wanda (1988) $62.5M $62.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 License to Drive (1988) $22.4M $22.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Big Top Pee-wee (1988) $15.1M $15.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) $14.7M $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Caddyshack II (1988) $11.8M $11.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Mr. North (1988) $1.2M $1.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 It Takes Two (1988) $344.4K $344.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of July 1988 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 31 (Jul 24–30) took $234M, led by Cocktail (1988). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 27 Wk 27 Jun 26–Jul 2 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 28 Wk 28 Jul 3–9 License to Drive (1988) $37.1M License to Drive (1988)
- Week 29 Wk 29 Jul 10–16 It Takes Two (1988) $344.4K It Takes Two (1988)
- Week 30 Wk 30 Jul 17–23 Midnight Run (1988) $109.8M Midnight Run (1988)
- Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 24–30 Cocktail (1988) $234M Cocktail (1988)
- Week 32 Wk 32 Jul 31–Aug 6 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does July 1988 Compare With July in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, July 1985 earned the most: $446.9M from 5 films, led by Back to the Future (1985). July 1988 took $381.2M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1979 2 films | 2 | $25.8M | – | Breaking Away (1979) $16.4M |
| July 1980 6 films · +639% | 6 | $190.5M | +639% | Airplane! (1980) $83.5M |
| July 1981 4 films · −31% | 4 | $132M | −31% | Arthur (1981) $95.5M |
| July 1982 8 films · +45% | 8 | $191.3M | +45% | The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) $69.7M |
| July 1983 5 films · −36% | 5 | $121.9M | −36% | National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) $61.4M |
| July 1984 6 films · −20% | 6 | $97.3M | −20% | Revenge of the Nerds (1984) $40.9M |
| July 1985 5 films · +359% | 5 | $446.9M | +359% | Back to the Future (1985) $385.1M |
| July 1986 10 films · −66% | 10 | $151.9M | −66% | About Last Night... (1986) $38.7M |
| July 1987 8 films · −8% | 8 | $139.7M | −8% | Summer School (1987) $35.7M |
| July 1988 9 films · +173% | 9 | $381.2M | +173% | Cocktail (1988) $171.5M |
Archive
Comedy Box Office in 1988, Month by Month
The months of 1988 with their totals: June leads with $966.3M, led by Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).
- January $162.3M #1 Good Morning, Vietnam (1988)
- February $76.2M #1 Action Jackson (1988)
- March $219.6M #1 Beetlejuice (1988)
- April $25.4M #1 Casual Sex? (1988)
- May $241.5M #1 Crocodile Dundee II (1988)
- June $966.3M #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- July $381.2M #1 Cocktail (1988)
- August $91.7M #1 Young Guns (1988)
- September $29M #1 Moon Over Parador (1988)
- October $50.4M #1 Punchline (1988)
- November $204.2M #1 Oliver & Company (1988)
- December $535.8M #1 Twins (1988)
FAQ
Comedy Box Office July 1988: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 9 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in July 1988?
Cocktail (1988) leads with $171.5M worldwide, $78.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M and A Fish Called Wanda (1988) at $62.5M.
How much did comedy movies released in July 1988 earn?
9 comedy films released in July 1988 report a worldwide gross, $381.2M in all, or $42.4M per film on average. June 1988 releases took $966.3M.
How many comedy movies released in July 1988 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Cocktail (1988) with $171.5M.
How is the July 1988 comedy box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in July 1988. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.
How often is the July 1988 comedy box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.